So you are considering buying a stove. A stove is an excellent way of enjoying an open fire without the mess, and is up to nine times more efficient than an open fire. Just consider the following benefits the higher efficiency a stove gives:

• No heat loss up the chimney when not in use. An open, unused flue will draw over 10% of the heat out of a house, just think of the savings there alone!

• Reduced heating bills. It would seem to make logical sense that when you light your fire, your central heating is on less, that is unfortunately not necessarily true. If your fireplace opening is more than 3ft square, the updraft from the fire will take massive quantities of heated air out of the house, causing your central heating to work overtime and therefore actually increase your heating bill.

• Less drafts. An open fire consumes huge quantities of oxygen which enter the house through cracks and gaps, causing drafts.

• Easier lighting. The controllability of a stove's air intakes makes it much easier to start than a conventional fire.

• Cure smoking fireplaces. Most problem chimneys which do not draw properly are no longer a problem when a stove is installed.

• Use less fuel. Typically a high quality stove will consume a small log every 2 hours.

• Less effort. Less fuel means less carrying and less feeding the fire.

• Less storage space needed as it uses less fuel.

• No need for coal. It is quite possible to burn just logs on a stove, where an open fire will normally need supplementing with coal to keep it going.

• Greater heat output. The fuel burns hotter (and therefore more efficiently) in its enclosed space.

• Less smoke. A high quality stove should not emit any visible smoke once it has reached working temperature.

• Less mess Everything is contained, and a high quality stove will only need the ashcan emptying every 2 weeks, even when used all day, every day.

• Longer burning A stove will often re-light the next morning by simply raking over the embers.

• No carpet burns. Wood that spits is not a problem as all combustion is enclosed.

The selection of stoves enclosed can be supplied through our partner company Mercon (UK).

The supply of stoves is only part of the service we provide. At Pete the Sweep we pride ourselves on offering accurate advice when choosing a stove, and an expert fitting service. After all, we are probably the only stove suppliers who will be returning to their customers every year, so it is important to us that you have the right stove for you, fitted properly.

If you have already chosen a stove, we are more than happy to provide an expert fitting/refitting service.